Bicycle pedal



g- 1952 J. H. COUNTRYMAN 2,605,649

BICYCLE PEDAL Filed June 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Shet 1 T v 13 11 10 6 12 1:3 I

T i. .i f f wfk r A INVENTOR. JAME a H. 1: 0 UNTRYMAN BY W W ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1952 J. H. COUNTRYMAN BICYCLE PEDAL Filed June 6, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i l li/y. .9. 8

9 INVENTOR. JAME :5 H. a: U UNTRYMANQ ATTORNEY A g- 1952 J. H. COUNTRYMAN 2,605,649

BICYCLE PEDAL Filed June 6, 19s" 3 Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR.

JAMES I-LCEIUNTRYMAN ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1952 s PATIENT OFFICE BICYCLE DAL" dames H. Countryman, West Middletown, Ohio Application June 6, 1950, Serial No. 166,431 1 i 'Without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a'p'edal tread structure in Which there are no exposed metal parts. Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary pedal tread support of metal construction.

Features of the invention have to do with the details of construction and assembly of parts which result in the elimination of screws, bolts, nuts and ball races. r

' My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view'of a metal stamping from which the frame of the pedal is formed. I

Fig. 2 is a view of the stamping after a forming operation.

Fig. 3 is a, longitudinal sectionalview of the pedal frame and bearing bushing mounted upon a spindle.

Fig. 4 is an assembled view of the finished pedal structure with a part of the tread broken away. I

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled pedaltaken upon line 5-5 of Fig. 4, displaced ninety degrees from Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon line 6 -6 of Fig.1. v

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken upon line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the tread surface taken upon the diagonal line 8 -8 of Fig. 4. f c

- Fig. 9 is an enlarged View of the cylindrical portion of the frame illustrating its assembly.

Fig. 1.0 is a top plan view with parts in section of a modified form of the structure.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken upon line lI-II .of Fig. 10. displaced ninety degrees from Fig.10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail view'of the inner end of the modified structure, and

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken upon line I3-I 3 of Fig. 12.

. With reference to the drawings, a metal stamping 5 (Fig. 1) comprises the body portion 6, provided on each edge with key portions 1 and 8 and of the plate 6, and-aboss fracture portion I4. The-boss the body portion 6 is rolled into cylindrical form as shown at l6, Fig. 9. Strap members II and I2, formed' integrally'with the plate 6, extend in parallelism'in opposite directions therefrom, the straps I I being shorter than the straps l2.

The blank 6, after being stamped, is hit with a forming tool to produce a reinforcing rib I3 in each of the straps II and I2. Thisoperation also produces a fracture portion H in the body 15 in the face of the v I5 will be on the inside of the cylinder l6 formed by rolling the plate 6. a c

After the plate 6 is rolled into cylindrical form, each of the shorter straps II will be bent into the form of an angle comprising an angularly extending leg I8 and a leg I9 extending hori-' 'zontally'tothe cylindrical portion I6. Similarly,

each of the longer straps I2 will be bent toform an angular leg 20 and a horizontal leg 2| which overlies each of the legs IQ of the straps II to form a substantially rectangular frame 25.

This rectangular frame is completely encased in a body ofpl'astic composition to form oval shaped fiat faced tread surfaces 26, joined by a web 2'I,-- which houses the cylindrical portion [6 of the frame.- The plastic body may be applied by'insertingthe rectangular .frame 25 into a properly formed mold filled with the required compound and subjecting the mold to the proper heat and pressure treatment.

1 During the molding process, a cavity 36 may be formed in one end of the web portion 21 to receive a light reflector 3|.

A spindle 35 for supporting the pedal tread comprises a threaded shank 36, an enlarged shoulder portion 31, a socket portion 38 to receive a wrench, and a bearing support 39. A bronze oil bearing bushing 46, mounted upon the support 39. is provided with a peripheral groove 4| which is adapted to receive the proin the cylindrical portion l6 of the A reduced end portion 42 on the bearing support 39 receives a thrust disc 43 which may be secured in place by'upsetting the end of iecnon [5 the portion.

3 be withdrawn from the spindle 35. This makes it easy to replace a tread.

As shown in Figs. and 11, a supporting frame 50 is provided, comprising wing portions 5!, connected to a cylindrical shaped web portion 52, provided with a cylindrical bore 53. The wing portions 5|, as viewed from the top, are generally oval in contour, and the outer edges are each provided with a concave portion 55. Depressions 56 are provided between the inner edges of the wing portions 5| and the web portion 52.

The Supporting frame 50 above described may be an iron casting, and it is encased in a body 58 of plastic composition to form oval shaped fiat faced tread portions 60 covering the wing poitions 5 I, joined by a web portion 6|, enclosing the web portion 52 of the frame 50. The tread surface 58 may be applied by molding it directly onto the supporting frame 50.

During the molding process, a steel wire 65 extending transversely between the tread surfaces and adjacent to the inner end of the web portion 52 is secured at its opposite ends in the molding material with an exposed central portion 55 between opposite sides of a centrally located cylindrical opening 61 in the inner-end of the molded web portion 6|.

A spindle l0v for supporting the pedal tread comprises a threaded shank H, an enlarged shoulder portion 12, a. socket portion 13 to receive a wrench, and a bearing support 14 forengagement with the bore 53 of the supporting frame 50. A circumferential groove 15 is provided in the inner end of the enlarged shoulder portion 12. This groove 75 is separated from the bearing support N by a collar 16 having an abruptly sloping face ll adjacent the groove 15, and a more gradually sloping face 18 adjacent the bearing support 14. Y

The pedal is assembled by slipping the frame 53 of the pedal over the bearing support 14 of the spindle l0 and applying sufficientpressure to spring the steel wire 65 over the collar 16 by pressing it outwardly against the resiliency of the molded material in which its ends are embedded. After passing the crown of the collar 16, the wire 65 will be forced to the bottom of the groove 75 where it will be free to rotate around the spindle Til and'retain the pedal tread against removal except by a longitudinal force considerably in excess of that required to apply it to the spindle.

An oil saturated packing disc 80 may be inserted in a pocket 8| provided inthe rubber tread portion adjacent the outer end of the hearing support 14 and retained in position by means of a reflecting lens 82 mounted in a cavity in the end of the rubber tread portion.

While the same general principles of construction are involved in the two structures described, the modification has. distinct advantages from the standpoint of cost of material, simplicity and economy of production. The principal economies result from the substitution of a cast metal support for the stamped and formed supporting frame, and the elimination of the bearing bush- 5 ing for rotatably supporting the pedal frame on the bearing spindle.

Features of construction common to the two devices are the unitary frame comprising the central bearing portion with the lateral tread supports completely enclosed in the rubber tread surface, and the spring and groove connection between the tread unit and the spindle bearing to secure the tread and spindle in assembly.

The fiat faced treads with the oval profiles in both designs provide a comfortable rest for the foot and give a graceful streamlined appearance to the pedal.

. The light reflector in the end of the pedal tread enhances the appearance and increases the safety factor for night riding.

Due to the simplicity of the structure comprising the fewest possible metal parts which may be assembled without screws, bolts, nuts or ball bearings, it lends itself to easy assembly, resulting in a unitary structure which will be of a permanent charactersi'nce there are no parts to loosen or rust.

The heavy tread molded upon the frame will 7 not twist or become distorted and may be supplied in any desired colors. I I

The bearing has a long life and will be effectively sealed when inserted in the pedal pad, and the pedal pads are interchangeable on the spindles.

No brazing welding, plating or otherexpensive operations are required.

Although I have shown and described my invention with respect to certain'details of construction, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be unduly limited thereto, certain modiflcations being possible without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

In a pedal for bicycles in combination, a unitary tread'support of metal comprising a tubular bearing member, a pair of angular straps attached to one end of the tubular-member and extending forwardly of the tubular member upon opposite sides thereof, a second pair of angular straps attached to the opposite ends of the .tubular member and lying in overlapping relation with the first angular straps to complete aframe surrounding the tubular member but spaced therefrom, and a plastic tread surface enclosing the metal treadsupport.

JAMES H. COUNTRYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

